HAF Congratulates Indian People on World’s Largest Exercise in Democracy

Washington, D.C. (May 16, 2014) -- The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) congratulated the Indian people on taking part in the world’s largest exercise in democracy, as the 2014 Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament) elections came to a close earlier this week. Official results from India’s multi-phased elections indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha and will form the new government under the leadership of the current Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

“We applaud the Indian people for voting in record numbers in democratic elections that were widely regarded as free and fair,” said Samir Kalra, Esq., HAF’s Director and Senior Fellow for Human Rights. “We look forward to working with representatives of the new government to strengthen US - India relations, promote human rights and pluralism, and address issues of concern to the Hindu diaspora.”

India is home to the largest population of Hindus in the world, estimated at over 800 million, with significant populations of Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians. India is the birthplace of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, and for centuries, it has provided refuge to those fleeing religious persecution elsewhere.